The anti-urolithiasis activity and safety of strangury-relieving herbs: A comparative study based on fruit fly kidney stone model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Urolithiasis is one of the oldest and most widespread urological diseases suffered globally. In the long history of Traditional Chinese Medicine, there're numerous herbs documented with strangury-relieving properties playing crucial roles in treating various urological disorders, including dysuria, hematuria, and renal colic, etc., which may be caused by urolithiasis. Exploring these herbs may reveal safer, more effective, and cost-efficient drugs and therapies for urolithiasis. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to assess the anti-urolithiasis efficacy and safety of 46 Chinese traditional and folk herbal drugs using the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) kidney stone model, in order to identify the most valuable ethnomedicinal materials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Water extract and 50% ethanol extract of each herb were prepared respectively. 0.2% (w/w) sodium oxalate was chosen as appropriate lithogenic agent through fruit fly life span study. Male fruit-flies within three days of emergence were aged for an additional three days, then were randomly divided into experimental groups, model group and control groups (n = 20). The flies in blank control group, model group and positive control group were fed with standard food, standard food containing 0.2% sodium oxalate, standard food containing 0.2% sodium oxalate and 3% (w/w) Garcinia cambogia extract, respectively. Meanwhile, flies in the experimental groups were raised on standard food containing 0.2% sodium oxalate and 3% (w/w) herbal extract. The anti-urolithiasis capability of the extracts was evaluated using stone area ratio (the stone area divided by the area of the Malpighian tubule) and stone-clearing rate. Additionally, the 7-day mortality rate was employed as an indicator of safety. RESULTS: Out of the 46 herbs, 24 exhibited significant anti-urolithiasis effects in their water extracts. Among them, Herba Nephrolepidis, Herba Humuli, Herba Desmodii Styracifolii, Cortex Plumeriae Rubrae, and Herba Mimosae Pudicae showed us a low 7-day mortality rate of fruit-flies as well. However, only a limited number of herbal extracts (8 out of 46) showed obvious anti-urolithiasis activity in their 50% ethanol extracts. CONCLUSION: Highly potential anti-urolithiasis candidates were discovered from strangury-relieving herbs recorded in classical Traditional Chinese Medicine works, highlighting the significant value of traditional and folk ethnopharmacological knowledge.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the effectiveness of three dentin desensitizing treatment regimens.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effects of three treatment regimens on dentin permeability and reduction of dentin hypersensitivity (DH). METHODS: The desensitization treatments were: Gluma Desensitizer PowerGel (GLU), MS Coat One (MSC), and dentin burnishing with fiber-resin burs (STB). A split-chamber device was used to determine the permeability of dentin slices cut from human molars in vitro. Fluid flow through dentin was recorded with a photochemical method after EDTA cleaning, albumin soaking and desensitization treatment (n = 10). 61 study participants with three severely hypersensitive teeth each were enrolled. Sensitivity was determined with an air stimulus before, immediately after treatment, and after 1, 3 and 6 months, using a verbal rating scale. RESULTS: From the 61 study participants enrolled, 52 completed the trial. Permeability at baseline and after albumin soaking was not significantly different. All treatments produced reduced fluid flow through dentin (P > 0.05). All treatments reduced DH significantly (no or moderate sensitivity). Statistical results revealed significant differences among the treatments (P = 0.03). Mann-Whitney comparisons showed GLU, STB < MSC.

Randomized trial of the clinical efficacy of a potassium oxalate-containing mouthrinse in rapid relief of dentin sensitivity.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a mouthrinse containing 1.4% potassium oxalate (Listerine Advanced Defence Sensitive; LADS) plus Colgate Cavity Protection Regular toothpaste, in reducing dentin sensitivity. METHODS: This was an observer- and examiner-blinded, randomized, parallel-group, single-center, controlled, five-day clinical trial. Healthy adults were randomized (2:1:1) to LADS plus Colgate Cavity Protection Regular toothpaste, or to one of the two negative-control toothpastes alone: Crest Cavity Protection Regular or Colgate Cavity Protection Regular. The subjects carried out supervised and unsupervised brushing and rinsing twice a day. Dentin sensitivity was assessed at baseline and during treatment by Yeaple probe (tactile pressure; patient-reported discomfort by visual analogue scale [VAS]), as well as response to air blasts (VAS). RESULTS: All sensitivity assessments were similar at baseline in the 56 randomized subjects. By the third day, the Yeaple probe sensitivity scores for subjects treated with Colgate toothpaste plus LADS improved significantly compared to Crest toothpaste alone (p < 0.05). By the fifth day, the mean scores for subjects treated with Colgate toothpaste plus LADS were significantly improved compared with subjects treated with either toothpaste alone (p < 0.05). The other sensitivity assessments showed that Colgate toothpaste plus LADS achieved statistically significant improvements compared with Colgate and/or Crest toothpaste alone from the third day. CONCLUSIONS: The 1.4% potassium oxalate mouthrinse (LADS) was associated with a reduction in dentinal sensitivity within a five-day period. Statistically significant reductions in all sensitivity variables were achieved by Day 3 and even greater reductions in dentin sensitivity scores were observed after five days.

A novel potassium oxalate-containing tooth-desensitising mouthrinse: a comparative in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of a new potassium oxalate (KO)-containing mouthrinse [Listerine® Advanced Defence Sensitive (LADS)] in reducing dentine permeability and occluding open dentinal tubules versus other desensitising products. METHODS: The permeability of acid-etched dentine disks was measured by hydraulic conductance; dentine surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The KO concentration was optimised for tubule occlusion by screening formulations containing 0.0-2.0% KO (n=5 disks per concentration). The optimal formulation was compared with five commercial products with non-oxalate occlusion technologies. After establishing the baseline permeability of acid-etched dentine disks, disks (n=6 per product) were randomly treated with the desensitising products (12 treatments, each 60 s, alternated with distilled-water rinses) and permeability was measured at intervals. Occluded disks were acid challenged. All experiments were conducted at room temperature. An unpooled, two-tailed t test was performed to assess between-treatment differences in relative residual permeability. RESULTS: The optimal concentration of KO in LADS was 1.4%, which provided ≈ 100% reduction in dentine permeability after nine treatments. Only LADS reduced permeability to zero and was significantly more effective in reducing dentine permeability than the other products (p ≤ 0.033 vs all other test products). All products partially occluded dentine. The occlusion associated with LADS was substantially more stable in resisting acid challenge versus Colgate® Sensitive Pro-Relief mouthrinse (p=0.054) and significantly more stable versus all other test products (p ≤ 0.045), as determined by dentine permeability. CONCLUSION: LADS was significantly more effective in occluding open dentinal tubules versus other desensitising products. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: LADS provides fast, complete and stable intratubular occlusion of patent dentinal tubules.

Dentine sensitivity: past, present and future.

OBJECTIVE: This review defines dentine sensitivity (DS), its prevalence, its aetiology, the mechanism(s) responsible for DS, its diagnosis and its treatment. The review then examines the modes of action of various treatments for DS including potassium salts, strontium salts, bioglasses, arginine/calcium carbonate and professional treatments such as adhesives and oxalates. The methods used to evaluate the various treatment modalities are discussed, including laboratory studies and randomised controlled clinical trials. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Ovid Medline and Cochrane reviews for information on DS and its treatments, as well as laboratory and clinical studies used to evaluate the efficacy of various DS treatments. With regard to efficacy of treatments for DS only reports of clinical studies that were randomised, controlled and blinded were reviewed. The authors offer new insights into the shortcomings of the recent systematic review of the use of oxalates for DS. CONCLUSION: The authors introduce the concept of a novel desensitising mouthrinse containing 1.4% potassium oxalate: Listerine® Advanced Defence Sensitive mouthrinse. Readers of this supplement issue of the Journal of Dentistry are invited to review the significance of managing the clinical problem of DS. They are also invited to assess data from laboratory and randomised controlled clinical studies in order to understand the advantages offered by regular use of 1.4% potassium oxalate-containing mouthrinse, Listerine Advanced Defence Sensitive, in particular its resistance to daily erosive and/or abrasive challenges.